More Craft Tips Galore .... (can't seem to find my other thread ?)

[Jolie Rouge]

Glittery Snowflake

Make a snowflake with fabric paint and glitter - makes a great window cling.

Materials Needed:
Baggie
Paper
Fabric paint
Glitter

Instructions:
Cut a snowflake out of paper. You can also cut one out of a magazine or print out a graphic from your computer. Make sure the snowflake can fit in the baggie. Put your snowflake inside the baggie. Trace the outline of your snowflake on the outside of the baggie using the Fabric paint. Sprinkle with glitter. Set aside to dry. Once the paint is dry, you can peel your paint snowflake off the baggie. Makes a great window cling.



Kiddy romper

These are for boys or girls. Just pick a T-shirt size big enough to come down to the child’s mid-shin or ankle.
Slit the front and back up the center to a point that would be the crotch on the child when the T-shirt was worn. Buy the snaps that come on a roll all together and sewed in a length of snaps into the slit. When finished the snaps make legs in the T-shirt that unsnap just like toddler jeans. Then use appliqués or fabric paint to make their favorite design.



Edible Crystals

A great project for kids; they get to watch the crystals grow and enjoy eating them when they are done!

Materials needed:
Clear glass
1/2 cup water
1 cup sugar
Small pan
Stove
Clean string
Clean paper clip
Pencil or piece of dowel

Attach string to center of pencil or dowel. Attach paper clip to other end of string. Pour 1/2 cup water into a pan. Add 1 cup of sugar to water. Heat mixture over a low flame until the sugar dissolves. Do not stir! Remove from heat and pour warm syrup into glass. Hang weighted string into syrup with pencil suspended across top of glass. Let stand at room temperature. Place glass on sunny windowsill. In about one week large crystals will begin to form. (Break the crust for water to evaporate. )




Baby Sock Roses

Aleene’s® Reverse Collage Glue Opaque, #3-2000
Aleene’s® Shrink-ItTM
Crafting Tissue (pastel colors of your choice)
Aleene’s Ultimate Glue Gun and glue sticks
Permanent marker
Template (design of your choice)
Scissors
Oven or toaster oven
Baby powder
1/4-inch diameter hole punch
Baby socks
Ruler
1-inch wide lace
12-14-gauge wire
20 inch (1 1/2 inch wide) Organdy ribbon

1. For tag, use marker and template to draw desired design onto Shrink-it. Cut out. Punch hole.
2. Preheat oven to 275'' to 300''. Lightly sprinkle baking board with baby powder. Place shape on board and place in oven. Bake. Remove when Shrink-it is completely flat. If shape starts to shrink immediately upon being placed in oven, temperature is too hot.
3. Use Reverse Collage glue-to-glue tissue paper to back of shape. Let dry. Tear excess tissue from edges.
4. For rose, start at toe of sock and roll to within 2 inch of cuff edge. Fold cuff around rolled portion to form rose.
5. For calyx, cut a 4-inch length of lace and glue around base of flower.
6. For stem, cut a 12-inch length of wire; make 1 inch loop in one end. Wrap ribbon around wire to cover stem, securing with glue. Glue looped end of stem into base of sock rose.
7. For leaves, knot 8-inch lengths of ribbon around stem.
8. Tie a bow around stem under flower.

[Jolie Rouge]

Scented Pinecones
Cinnamon*
Ginger*
Nutmeg*
Craft glue mixed with equal amounts of Water
Foam brush
Pinecones

This recipe was given to me by a good friend
*Add any other spices that you like the smell of. Mix in the proportions that you desire (I’d go heavy on the cinnamon as I love the smell). Rinse pinecones under running water. Lay the pinecones on an old cookie sheet and bake at 200 degrees until the pinecones open up (this not only kills any little beasties that may be residing within the pinecones but also melts the sap resulting in a pretty glaze). Spread pinecones out on layers of newspapers and set aside to dry completely. Use the foam brush to apply the glue to the pinecones. Mix the spices in a bowl using a wire wisk. Roll the pinecone in the spice or add the spices to a baggie; add the pinecones one at a time and shake to coat (like shake-n-bake). When coated, allow drying thoroughly. Use these wonderfully-scented pinecones in gift baskets, as Christmas tree ornaments, on Christmas wreaths, or placed in bowls to add a wonderful scent to a room. If, after storing, you need to refresh the scent of the pinecones just stick them in a microwave until the smell if revived.


For the individual who wanted a cookie in a jar recipe...

layer in a sterilized quart jar the following items...

1/2 C white sugar,
1/2 C packed brown sugar,
1 C quick-cooking oats,
1 C crispy rice cereal.

Be sure to press each item down firmly otherwise all ingredients will not fit. Add a layer of 1/4 C choc chips, then 1/4 C M&M's. Combine 1 C flour, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp baking powder together and add that all as a layer after the M&M's. Use a screw on lid. Secure a circle of fabric on top of the jar with a rubber band. Add a ribbon to complete your gift. On an index card, write these instructions: Set oven at 350 F. Empty contents of this jar into a mixing bowl and toss to blend. Soften 1/2 C margarine. Add one beaten egg and one teaspoon vanilla flavoring to margarine. Add this to the cookie mix, blending well. Shape into one-inch balls and place two inches apart on an ungreased, nonstick cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Makes about four dozen cookies.

NOTE: you can substitute the M&M's or chocolate chips with raisins, chopped pecans, walnuts or snipped dried fruit like prunes or apricots...I hope this helps, I have made several for gifts throughout the years.


Simple Home Made Christmas Ornaments to make.

To make your own ornaments inexpensively.... I take the silk wrapped cheap ornaments & take off the silk stuff then paint on glossy Mod Podge & put Christmas napkins on them (cut out mainly the design & have it only one layer thick)...then put on another coat of Mod Podge & roll in clear glitter. You can make a lot of ornaments this way & they look real nice too! My kids used to love it when they were little. You can also use Woodsies & paint them & roll them in glitter. And last but not least.... use flour & salt & use cookie cutters...then paint after they dry & coat with clear varnish.


If you live in the south, you can find a sweet gum tree and pick up the prickly seedpods they produce. Try to find the ones with the stem still attached. Use a clothespin or string to hang the pods on a line in an area where she can spray paint the pods in different colors (gold and silver are particular nice). Then, while the paint is still wet, sprinkle glitter on. This can also be done with pinecones, but is a little harder since they do not have stems with which to hang them for spray painting. If no spray paint is available, they can also be dipped in a can of paint.


Another simple but Victorian type decorations can be made with a package of medium size paper doilies that can be found at any local dollar store. Cut the doilies in half. You can fold the half doily into a cone shape; attach edges with a drop of glue. On the front of the cone, glue a small ribbon with a small ribbon rose, or bead in the center with small streamers of ribbon falling down. You can also get the rectangular or square doilies. Fold them into a fan like you did in grade school. After you have your pleats in the doily, unfold and put a ribbon, a line of paint or even crayon across the top of the folded fan. Then fold again, spread the top part with the color out, and then either staple or tie a ribbon around the gathered bottom. Then you can put ribbons, rose, or beads around the gathered end to match the doily can you make. These make cheap and inexpensive easy to make decorations for your tree. If you make the doily decorations, while at the dollar store, pick up one of the cheap flower sprays of roses or poinsettias the color of the ribbon you use. Pluck the individual flowers off the spray and use then as individual flowers interspersed with the doily decorations on the Christmas tree. I did this one-year and completely decorated my Christmas tree in a lovely Victorian theme. I got more compliments on my tree and everyone asked for my source of lovely Victorian decorations. My eight-year-old daughter helped me make these decorations and the time we spent together will forever hold precious memories for both of us. All of this was accomplished for under $10.00 worth of supplies.


Here is a simple way to make gingerbread men ornaments for each person. Take the crust off whole wheat or brown bread. Break up the bread into small pieces. For every slice of bread, add a tablespoon of Aleene's Tacky Glue. Mix this together with your hands (if you don't want to get this messy put the bread and glue into a baggie and mix it by squeezing the bag on the outside). When you have enough mixed to make several, roll out on a board sprinkled with
cornstarch and cut out your gingerbread men. Decorate with beads, bows, or other decorations made with the same mix (use white bread and paint to make the desired color). Allow to dry for a day or two ahead to the time you want to use them. You could attach a magnet to the back for a fridge magnet or glue on a bit of ribbon, thread or cording to hang it from your Christmas tree.

-or-

Ginger bread people can be made of foam core and painted. They can be made in several different sizes. They use the same ones made 30 years ago at the library where I used to work. Spray paint the foam core in the appropriate brown and decorate with ribbons and other Christmassy decorations. Some that I have seen use round peppermint candy for eyes and licorice for mouths and a gum drop for the nose. My friend, who has a child born in December, says decorating real gingerbread cookies is a lot of fun I would have given cookies to each relative anyway . Have fun. Also, just making real tasty gingerbread cookies and putting a hole in them with a straw so you can add a ribbon through it to and the cookies on a tree makes a great decoration or small gift.

Speaking of Gingerbread ... : A fun thing you could do for centerpieces with gingerbread is to make bowls from the gingerbread. Just make your dough as usual, then roll it out and cut into some type of round shape. Generously grease the outside of an oven-safe bowl in your desired shape and place your cutout gingerbread all around the bowl completely covering it. Remember that the dough will shrink, so be sure to overlap enough. Bake as usual, allow to cool, then just slide your cookie basket off and fill "gingerly" with goodies!

[Jolie Rouge]

This is a Tip For Rubber Stamper.

I was always looking for more colors to stamp with, and cringed every time I bought an inkpad in a certain color, for just one project. It was then pointed out to me to use my brush markers to color directly onto the stamp, to ink the stamp. If you are working on a larger stamp, the ink may lose some of its wetness as you go, but just breathe on the stamp (similar to as you would to fog up a window), and the wetness comes right back. I also use my brush markers when I want to watercolor. Color a little bit of the ink onto a plastic surface (I use the backside of an ink pad case), then dip your wet paintbrush into it, and paint with it. Works like a charm, and it will increase the number of watercolor colors that you have tremendously!


If you are a Mom, you most likely saved the first outfit that your
child wore home from the hospital at birth. (At least I did.) Rather than keep the little outfits tucked away in a chest somewhere, I bought some Teddy Bears that best suited each child's personality,
dressed them up with my "keepsakes" and put them on display. They have a great way of reminding you to cherish each moment; for they truly pass by quickly! Submitted by: Cyndi Goodrich, San Antonio,
Texas


In response to the scrunchies - I crochet mine you can use regular yarn, cording, or embroidery thread. Just purchase some elastic ponytail holders and tie the end of the yarn on the ponytail holder, loop your yarn and chain 2,then double crochet all the way around the ponytail holder until you feel that it is ruffled enough then join your thread/yarn and tie off. You can even add beads to your yarn before you begin to crochet then just pick up a bead before going to the next stitch and it should end up on the outer edged of the scrunchie. VERY EASY! MY GIRLS LOVE THEM. LEE

[Jolie Rouge]

Glittery Snowflake

Make a snowflake with fabric paint and glitter - makes a great window
cling.
Materials Needed:
Baggie
Paper
Fabric paint
Glitter

Instructions:
Cut a snowflake out of paper. You can also cut one out of a magazine
or print out a graphic from your computer. Make sure the snowflake can
fit in the baggie. Put your snowflake inside the baggie. Trace the
outline of your snowflake on the outside of the baggie using the
Fabric paint. Sprinkle with glitter. Set aside to dry. Once the paint
is dry, you can peel your paint snowflake off the baggie. Makes a
great window cling.


Kiddy romper
These are for boys or girls. Just pick a T-shirt size big enough to come down to the child’s mid-shin or ankle. slit the front and back up the center to a point that would be the crotch on the child when the T-shirt was worn. Buy the snaps that come on a roll all together and sewed in a length of snaps into the slit.
When finished the snaps make legs in the T-shirt that unsnap just like
toddler jeans.
Then use appliqués or fabric paint to make their favorite design.


Edible Crystals
A great project for kids; they get to watch the crystals grow and
enjoy eating them when they are done!

Materials needed:
Clear glass
1/2 cup water
1 cup sugar
Small pan
Stove
Clean string
Clean paper clip
Pencil or piece of dowel

Attach string to center of pencil or dowel. Attach paper clip to other
end of string. Pour 1/2 cup water into a pan. Add 1 cup of sugar to
water. Heat mixture over a low flame until the sugar dissolves. Do not
stir! Remove from heat and pour warm syrup into glass. Hang weighted
string into syrup with pencil suspended across top of glass. Let stand
at room temperature. Place glass on sunny windowsill. In about one
week large crystals will begin to form. (Break the crust for water to
evaporate. )



Directions on making a stained glass type ornament out of Elmer's glue and food coloring

--Any white glue that dries clear can be used for this project. First, create a pattern of spaces to be colored on the glass ornament, using the new ready-to-apply leading. An alternative would be to use liquid leading, following manufacturer's instructions. Stir a drop food coloring into a small amount of glue, using a toothpick. Add a drop of food coloring at a time. The color will be lighter when glue dries. Paint a generous amount of colored glue into each space. Let dry.


Homemade clay
No-bake craft clay

1-cup cornstarch
1 1/4 cups cold water
2 cups baking soda
Food coloring (optional)

Mix all ingredients in saucepan and stir over medium heat for about 4 minutes. Mixture should be the consistency of mashed potatoes. Add food coloring if desired, a few drops at a time. Remove from heat, turn on a plate and cover with a damp cloth. Let cool. When cool, knead like dough. At this point, the clay may be stored in an airtight container. Squeeze, roll, mold, or shape however you choose.
This is good for rolling out and cutting with cookie cutters. Using a pencil or medium-sized nail, punch a hole in the top of any ornaments you make before allowing to air-dry. When completely dried, paint as desired. After using this recipe in childcare for many, many years, I thought someone else might like to have it, too. Just be sure you do the cooking, and keep the children a safe distance away from the hot stove.


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Cross Stitching On A Large Scale

I have a tip for anyone who is older and/or having a hard time seeing to cross stitching on regular cloth but still enjoys cross stitching. I started doing this to make baby blankets with cute animal pictures for my friends who were pregnant. Using a large afghan hook, create a plain afghan row the same number of stitches you have in your pattern (Multi-color yarns make really interesting backgrounds for your cross stitching). Remember to leave 3 to 5 rows at the top and bottom and about 5 stitches on either side of the pattern to allow for easier cross-stitching. To prevent boredom, do not wait until my base afghan is completed before starting to cross-stitch on it. I will usually do about 10 - 20 rows at a time, my cross stitch on those rows, and then do another 10 - 20 rows of the afghan stitches. Each completed Afghan stitch creates a box that works perfectly for cross-stitching. I have created wall hangings that look like tapestries because I am using 1or 2 strands of regular knitting yarn (depending on the size of the afghan hook) rather than embroidery floss. For baby blankets, use sport weight to prevent the blanket from being too heavy.. The nice thing about it is that the pictures I create using this method is almost 3-D and VERY touchable. If you use washable acrylic yarn, your creation will be fully washable for years of beauty and enjoyment.

Another hint. After the picture is completed, I usually take black yarn and backstitch the outline of the figure. This causes the picture to literally pop out of the afghan. Everyone I gave my blankets and wall hangings to have been really impressed by the pieces, and it was easy, fun and caused NO eyestrain.